Hughes confident City can record their finest ever Premier League finish

23 February 2009 05:54

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Mark Hughes believes Manchester City

are about to prove their detractors wrong and celebrate the club's best ever Premier League season despite their inconsistencies.

After Sunday's credible 1-1 draw with Liverpool

at Anfield, Hughes believes City are at last producing the form expected from a club who have spent £120million this season.

But Hughes also believes there are many who are determined to derail City's progress as they ultimately aim to break into the Premier League's 'big four'.

Best ever: Mark Hughes believes City can go onto produce their best Premier League finish if they can build on Sunday's impressive 1-1 draw with Liverpool

'If we can better the highest league position City have achieved in the Premier League, eighth, then people will have to reluctantly admit we have had a decent season, although inconsistent on occasions,' he said.

City, who also have a good chance of reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after produce the performances Hughes demands.last week's 2-2 first-leg draw against Copenhagen in the last 32, are beginning to

'We are looking now for a strong finish. We had a disappointment last week with our defeat at Portsmouth, when we were poor, but we can be better than that,' he added.

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'We have shown that, when teams open up against us, we have an attacking threat.

'If teams do that, we will capitalise. The problem in the past is that when teams 'park the bus' in front of their goal and we have not had enough guile to break them down.

'If we have a fair run at it now, and hit the levels we achieved at Anfield, we would expect to be in the top 10.'

Hughes, however, is furious with continued speculation about alleged incidents at the club, the latest being claims of a dispute between Craig Bellamy and Robinho.

He said: 'I have seen some frankly laughable stuff about us, things that are just not true.

Hold up: City's Robinho is held up by Fernando Torres

'We understand there is a lot of focus on what we are trying to do, and there are also a lot of people who do not want us to succeed.

'People need to see through that and understand what is happening. It seems like everything happening at the club, people seem to tell the outside world.

'Some of it is correct, a vast majority is way off the mark. That is what is happening around us with a lot of negative things.'

Hughes had praise for two of his expensive signings, Robinho and Nigel de Jong.

'Robinho was very good against Liverpool, as he was in Copenhagen. People understand that, if you give him the ball, he will retain possession and give the rest of the guys confidence,' he said.

'There was a drive and purpose about what we did, we were strong under pressure and overall it was a very good performance.

'Nigel de Jong was outstanding and this was his best game since he arrived at the club. People can now understand why we wanted to bring him to the club.

'He understands where he should be on the pitch to break things up and set attacks going.

'He has been out for a few months with injury and he is still trying to reach a fitness level.'